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Have you heard this one...?

I've been trying to get my milk supply up, and have been consulting a lactation specialist. She told me NOT to pump because pumping doesn't help increase milk supply. WHAT!?!?!? Everthing I read on LLLI contradicts that philosophy. My milk supply is still dismal, so to pump or not to pump??? Anyone else hear of this?

Re: Have you heard this one...?

I think it depends on the situation. If the baby is having trouble transferring milk, pumping would be critical. If baby is able to milk the breast properly, then putting baby to breast more would be first choice to increase supply. Pumping would be secondary. I would ask her why she thinks pumping will not help in your situation...

Re: Have you heard this one...?

Originally Posted by @llli*umbribyz

I think it depends on the situation. If the baby is having trouble transferring milk, pumping would be critical. If baby is able to milk the breast properly, then putting baby to breast more would be first choice to increase supply. Pumping would be secondary. I would ask her why she thinks pumping will not help in your situation...

Ditto

Mama to my Rubies
C '07
A '09
And my Christmas Eve baby
L '12I will carry you all my life
And I will praise the one who's chosen me to carry you
W Apr '11
R Nov '11The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart. *Helen Kellar*

Re: Have you heard this one...?

I'm pregnant... raging hormones! My supply always dropped before my period would start, but this month my period DIDN'T start, so my low supply is just lasting a little bit longer. Mornings are fine, but by late afternoon and evening I can tell he's not getting enough. He'll only nurse for 2-3 minutes before he starts pulling back, and then he'll do the latch on, pull off, latch on, pull off. When my supply is good, he doesn't stop until everything is gone. Also, when I manually check my milk, NOTHING comes out... not even a drip on the left side! This is my 3rd nurser, so I can read the signs. Even if he was nursing 5-10 minutes on one or both sides, I'd feel a little better, but that's only the case in the mornings.

Re: Have you heard this one...?

I'm sorry you're going through this. I had the same problem with hormones both with my period and when I got pregnant. Hope you can find something that helps. Let me know if you do ! ! LOL I'm in the same situation with lo #2.

Re: Have you heard this one...?

Have you tried things like RRLT and epo to even out your hormones before af? I've also read calcium and magnesium? can help too right before af, I don't have the paper anymore but maybe Kelly mom has it on there. Yes, pumping normally helps w/ lower supply, but I'm not sure what it can do when it's a hormone thing, but it can't hurt. Was told 10-12 mins after every feed, never more than that b/c you can damage tissue since you're doing it AFTER feeding. You could also try some fenugreek and such during that time.